EMPD members arrested six people for public violence following protests over lack of electricity in Tokyo Sexwale informal settlement in Ramaphosa.
Residents of the informal settlement blocked Elsburg Road and Commissioner Street with rocks, debris and burning tyres, bringing the area to a standstill on September 13 and 15.
During the protests, things took a turn for the worse when demonstrators directed their anger towards innocent motorists. They reportedly stoned and petrol-bombed the vehicles.
The EMPD’s Public Order Policing, First Response, SWAT, Equestrian and Anti-Drunken Driving units, including members from the Boksburg and Germiston precincts, were deployed to the area.
According to EMPD spokesperson Kobeli Mokheseng two heavy motor vehicles and one light motor vehicle were set alight by the angry mob. The occupants managed to escape unhurt.
“During the strategic patrols by officers, violent protesters were playing a disappearing act. But between 11am and 2pm six demonstrators, who were found damaging a truck and throwing stones at passing motor vehicles, were cornered and apprehended by EMPD officers,” said Mokheseng.
The arrested consist of one woman and five men between the ages 29 and 45. They were taken to the Reiger Park Police Station where they were formally charged with public violence.
They were scheduled to appear in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court soon.
Power struggle
A power struggle over the provision of electricity to dozens of informal settlements in the City of Ekurhuleni has seen a number of violent protests of late.
Residents and their community leaders told the Advertiser that the main grievance was related to ‘promises’ allegedly made by the Ekurhuleni mayor Mzwandile Masina regarding electricity.
They said the mayor asked residents of the informal settlement to vote for the ANC and promised that he will see to it that all the informal settlements are electrified. This has not yet happened.
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